less angry at seeing the village now full of dragoons,
from another quarter, whose business here he could not understand.
These dragoons, strolling through the streets, touched their helmets to
the party in the carriage, which the waiting-maid of the baroness
acknowledged with remarkable grace. The dragoon officer, Dandoins, at
first delighted to see the party arrive, presently did not like what he
saw, and was pretty sure the village had taken the alarm. He looked
full at the pretended courier, from the side pavement, as much as to
say, "Be quick! Make haste to change horses, and be off." The dull
fellow, not understanding what he meant, came up to him, to know whether
he had anything to say. All which was observed by a hundred eyes.
Drouet's eyes were the quickest. He thought that the waiting-maid's
face was like somebody he had seen somewhere in Paris; and the valet,
how very like the king! He called to a friend to bring him, quick, a
new assignat. [Note: A promissory note which passed as money, like a
bank-note. It bore an engraving of the king's head.] The king's head
there, and the valet's head in the carriage, were exactly alike. Now
Drouet understood the meaning of his village being filled with hussars
in the morning, and dragoons in the afternoon.

The great coach was just driving off; and he dared not stop it, while
the armed dragoons were standing about, even if he had been absolutely
certain that he had seen the king and queen; which he could not be. So
he let them drive off; and then told the friend that had brought him the
assignat, desiring him to saddle two of the fleetest horses in the
post-house, while he stepped over to the town-hall, to give the alarm.
While they rode off, the report got abroad through the whole village.
Dandoins wanted his dragoons to mount and ride; but they were hungry,
and would have some bread and cheese first. While they were eating, the
National Volunteers drew up, with their bayonets fixed, to prevent their
leaving the village. The dragoons were willing to stay, and side with
the people: and stay they did; only the quarter-master cutting his way
through, and riding off with a pocket-book, containing secret
despatches, which Dandoins had managed to slip into his hand.

The berlin went on faster now; but not so fast as Drouet and his
companion were following; while the quarter-master was spurring on to
overtake _them_, if possible. What a race!--the fate of Franc